Suburban Restaurant Row

I often jokingly say that every third storefront in downtown Redwood City and San Carlos are restaurants. Every time I drive down Broadway or Laurel it seems a new establishment is opening, complete with liquor license. So today I decided to test my theory and see just how far off I am in my half-hearted assessment. My husband and I took a stroll, well actually a hearty walk, going from one end of Broadway (El Camino) to the downtown terminus (Main Street). Yes, Broadway does go further than that in both directions, but for all intents and purposes, this stretch is considered the main “downtown” area.

Redwood City’s downtown went through blight in the 1990s with shuttered storefronts and an unappealing thoroughfare, to revitalization during the last few years, partially due to a strong downtown business association. Sidewalks were installed with brick-like pavers, fancy street lights, trees, sitting areas, and other amenities.

Starting on the far west end of Broadway, the first block is a long one, bordered by El Camino, all the way down to the railroad tracks. (I combined the parking lot and rental store block in this one, due to the fact that they are not a complete block.) This stretch had 32 storefronts, 11 of which were restaurants: Bangkok Bay (great food), Venus Café, Moe Kabob (coming soon), Naranjos Taqueria, Erawan Thai, Haus Stadt Cafe, Destinations (not so good), City Pub (always crowded), Mexquite, Pho Dong (great pho), and Peets.

In the second block, which curves to the right after the tracks and continues to Winslow, there were 11 storefronts with 5 eating establishments: La Fiesta, Sweet Stop, Seasonal Sushi, Ristorante Casablanca (with music and belly dancing on occasion), and my favorite, Pamplamouse. This little French-inspired bakery serves breakfast and lunch, with a variety of sweets, including 20 kinds of French macarons. I particularly like their orange brioche, homemade soups, and anything they do with chocolate.

Block 3 runs from Winslow to Hamilton, with a large bank building on the east side, and only 8 storefronts on the west. Two of those storefronts are restaurants: New Kapodokia (where waiters sling the Turkish tea on a platter around in a circle) and Bluefin Sushi. I am not a huge sushi fan, but my husband liked it enough for me to order several large platters for an engagement party I threw last summer. It was a hit with everyone.

The next block, Hamilton to Theatre Way, features the old courthouse which has been refurbished inside and out, with the addition of a courtyard facing Broadway. The courtyard features tables with umbrellas that are put to good use in better weather, and where you can catch a free Friday night concert during the summer. Across the street from the courthouse, the Fox and the Little Fox theatres are thriving musical venues, and the property owner has invested a fair chunk to renovate the many historic buildings he owns in the area, bringing back the charm and grace that once lined these streets. Six storefronts, plus the courthouse, line this block, with only one restaurant among them, La Boulangerie.

From Theatre Way to Jefferson is the site of the old JC Penney store, where I happily climbed their wide staircase as a child. This has been torn down and a megacomplex with 20 cinemas, retail stores, and restaurants has taken its place, all with plenty of underground parking. There are no storefronts facing Broadway, however, so the only restaurant of the 3 storefronts on the east side of the street is the longtime favorite Courthouse Café. Breakfast and lunch served to the legal eagle crowd, as well as old-timers—a much-loved institution in the downtown area.

Crossing Jefferson and leading to the Historic Creek Crossing, there are 11 storefronts, including an Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Four restaurants grace this block: Margaritas, Talk of Broadway (jam-packed on a Saturday morning), Mr. Pizza, and Maui Wowi. After the Historic Creek Crossing is our last block, leading us to Main Street. A full 9 of the 17 storefronts is food-related: Mimi Café, Savvy Cellar, Amelia’s, Quizno’s, Vino Santo Bistro, Young’s Ice Cream, Suisha House, Fortune Restaurant, and Mandaloun. Believe it or not, this used to be the edge of town, looking at the bay. Over the course of time, this area has been filled in and the bay can now be found across the other side of Highway 101.

So, how did I do? Well, 90 storefronts/buildings with 34 being eating establishments, definitely more than 1/3. And that is not including the side-street restaurants. So, if you’re hungry, no matter the cuisine, you can probably find it on Broadway or its surrounds. Just take a stroll….